Toilet bowl homogenizing and cooling system

ABSTRACT

A motor-fan system immediately combines small warm odorous clouds of molecules emitted by the human body and associated excrements with enormous volumes of cool non-odorous molecules drawn from outside of the toil bowl. The gross mixture is funneled into the homogenizing unit rotating 3000 rpm, which in turn forces the air through a large dense filter of activated charcoal. The size and density of this filter is designed to; 1) to absorb sparsely dispersed odorous molecules and, 2) to act as a barrier to allow cooling of the warm odorous molecules. The homogenized air passes into a lower-most compartment where large scented granules are placed to; 1) bury the odorous molecule that may escape the process and, 2) to pass a pleasant aroma into the adjacent space at floor level. Misc. specification: power source is 120 v, molded unit and parts except motor, fan and filter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Utilizing Patent Office Advanced Search software, “Homogenizingand Cooling toilet bowl air” did not exist in Patent Office data basefiles.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] No federal funds were utilized for this project.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The invention involves a unique approach to controlling andeliminating the disgusting and embarrassing odors emitted by the humanbody and associated excrements when using the common toilet. Manyattempts have been made, as discovered by means of the Patent OfficeAdvanced Search software, to solve this age-old dilemma. Every public orprivate restroom has a burden of odorous gases infiltrating or spreadinginto adjacent spaces. Ceiling fans are required within most buildingcodes, however, ceiling fans exacerbate the problem because they simplydraw the odor from the source and then distribute it throughout the roomas it is drawn up to the ceiling. This invention's primary functions areto disperse the cloud of odorous molecules, absorb the sparsely locatedodorous molecules into highly dense filter, cool odorous molecules toroom temperature, and to return homogenized and cooled air to floorlevel.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] Prior inventions have failed or have not been accepted for manyreasons. Poor design, too costly to manufacture and/or to install, andperhaps most importantly, not effective in solving the toilet bowl odorproblem. Nearly all prior inventions have a common vacuum system toremoving odor from the toilet bowl, however, numerous techniques areused to disposed of the odor. Several funnel it to adjacent wall, othersreturn the odor to the water tank, several others vaguely describepassing it through a filter (assuming such filter exists), anotherinvention details piping odor into the wall up to the ceiling fan vent.Several inventions used a water spray through which the toilet bowl airwas passed in an attempt to modify the composition of the odorous cloud,and another simply returned the odor to the toilet bowl water. None ofthe dozens of patents reviewed mentioned: A large volume of outside airbeing drawn across the toilet bowl from front to rear, grossly mixingthis large volume with a small volume of gaseous cloud of molecules fromthe human body and associated excrement, passing this gross mixture intoa powerful high speed impellor that homogenizes this gross mixture,forces the homogenized air into a large filter of activated charcoal forthe purposes of absorbing and cooling sparsely located molecules ofgaseous odor, and finally, forcing it to floor level where it is maypass over, under, and around granules of scented material before it isexpelled out of unit at floor level. None of the prior inventionssuggest or imply returning homogenized air to the surrounding spacewhere it is unlikely to rise from floor level and even more unlikelydiscernable with a ratio of approximately of one unit of gaseous odor toapproximately 8,000 units of fresh air. Few, if any, human olfactorysystems are sensitive at this ratio.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] 1. The primary function of this invention is to siphon largequantities of air into a homogenizing cooling, and filtering unit. Theincoming air has two components in its composition: 1.) Fresh air fromoutside of the toilet bowl and, 2.) dense gaseous molecules expelledfrom the human body and the related excrements. The large volume of airfrom outside of the toilet bowl is drawn in from a rectangular openingbeneath the front portion of the toilet seat at a rate of approximately17,280 cubic inches per 10 second interval. Manufacturer's rating is 300cubic feet per minute at 3000 rpm without restrictions. Design featuresintroduced restrictions of the latter specifications, however, anoticeable gentle flow of air can be sensed on the human posteriorduring the operation of the invention. Analysis of the gaseous clouds ofodorous molecules associated with the human body and the relatedexcrements provide an approximate measurement of two (2) cubic inchesduring any ten (10) second interval. These odorous and gaseous clouds ofmolecules are released only during random intervals during which time aconstant flow of fresh air is being drawn across the toilet bowl intothe homogenizing, cooling, and filtering unit.

[0008] 2. Noteworthy is the fact that a gross mixture flows into theunit as described in the above paragraph. The blades of the fan aremoving at a constant rate of 3000 rpm, creating an homogenizing eventthat absolutely destroys the consistency of the odorous gaseousmolecules, distributing those molecules in a random matter among thethousands of molecules of fresh air. The approximate ratio of 2 units to17,280 is such that the human olfactory sensory system is most likelyunable to discern odorous molecules.

[0009] 3. The invention includes another important concept that otherinventions fail to incorporate into their design. A large filter of highdensity activated charcoal that serves two functions. The first is toabsorb the sparsely dispersed odorous molecules in the homogenized airpassing from the fan. It must be noted that all available air filters onthe current market have very limited capacities of absorption. Allfilters that were analyzed had absorption widths of one-half inch orless. This invention has an absorption width of four (4) inches, acapacity that is approximately 800 percent greater than any other airfilter. The unique cylindrical filter has a diameter of six (6) inchesand an absorption depth of four (4) inches. The characteristics of thehomogenized air and the absorption capacity provide substance toestimate a lifetime factor of at least one (1) year and as many as five(5) years.

[0010] 4. The second factor mentioned in the previous paragraph (3) isthe important factor of cooling the incoming warm odorous gaseous cloudsof molecules. Review of available abstracts found no reference to thespecific problem of warm gaseous clouds of molecules rising up aroundthe toilet seat into the room. This unique filter serves as a barrier tothe fast moving homogenized air. Although warm odorous gaseous moleculeshave been dispersed, a short time interval is necessary for the coolingprocess to be absolutely completed. Attention should be directed to thefinal results: Homogenized, filtered, and cooled air is now forced tothe lower-most level to be vented into the surrounding space at floorlevel. Scented granules should be placed in a wire or nylon net basketso that air can pass over, under, and around these granules to provide apleasant scent in the surrounding space. In this manner those rareodorous molecules that survive the inventive process would be completelyneutralized or overcome by the pleasant scent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The magnitude of perception of individual parts, functionalinter-relationships, and proportional sizes will be enhanced by FIG.1-FIG. 5.

[0012]FIG. 1 is a black and white photograph of the off-side frontalview of an installed proto-type of the homogenizing, filtering, andcooling unit.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a sectional profile of the side view showing relativeparts, locations of parts, proportional dimensions, and arrowsindicating path of air drawn in from outside of the towel bowl.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a sectional profile of the frontal view showing relativeparts, location of parts, and directional components of air flow fromthe toil bowl into the rectangular inlet, through the molded funnel,down into the homogenizing chamber, forced into the activated charcoalfilter, and finally, into the lower most compartment, passing throughscented granules and vented at floor level.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a sectional profile of the top view showing relativeparts, especially the longitudinal spacers that are attached to theunderside of the toilet seat. Theses spacers serve to raise the seatabove the toilet bowl to form an adequate rectangular inlet opening anda rectangular outlet opening at the rear of the toilet seat. Theselongitudinal spacers also channel the fresh outside air to the outletopening.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a diagram of two figures, the first is the large highdensity cylindrical filter of activated charcoal and the second figureis the lower most level of the unit. Homogenized and cooled air isforced into this compartment, under, around, and over large granules ofpleasantly scented materials. Homogenized, cooled, and pleasantlyscented air is vented into the surrounding space at floor level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] 1. With reference to the FIGS. 1-5, the invention is a new andunique method of instantly collecting the odorous and gaseous moleculesfrom the toilet bowl, homogenizing those with large volumes of outsideair, filtering and cooling by means of a high density activated charcoalfilter, and finally, venting the homogenized and cooled air through acompartment of scented granules. No other patent, using the AdvancedSearch Software, was found that cited a reference relative to theprocess of homogenizing, filtering, and cooling process as defineherein.

[0018] 2. FIG. 1, a black and white photograph, provides an exactillustration how the invention can accommodate the majority of past andcurrent models of toilet bowl fixtures or designs. Molded materials,excepting motor, fan, and filter, provide cost effective methods ofproduction and, at the same time, permit many years of maintenance freeoperation. FIG. 1 clearly shows the location of the off-on switch to theelectric motor when it is necessary to operate. Many of the reviewedpatents relative to the toilet bowl odor problem cite the use of anautomatic switch, activated each and every time the toilet bowl seat ispressured by use. Objective analysis demands this to be an ineffectiveuse of energy. The greatest usage of the toilet bowl, urinating, doesnot involve odorous gas and/or excrements and, therefore, an off-onswitch is the better solution to providing power to the unit.

[0019] 3. FIG. 2 provides a side view of the total construct. Aindicates a toilet seat and the toilet cover. The rails or spacers B canbe attached to seats that are circular, elliptical, and those open atthe front. The rails or spacers B hold the seat A at a proper distanceabove the toilet bowl to form an inlet opening at the front. Note thearrows indicating the air flow into the above mentioned inlet. C is themolded top to the major component of this invention. The incoming air,flowing into the funnel F is not homogenized. The air is simply a grossmixture of odorous gas and air from the exterior. D is motor ofparticular choice. D must be powerful, {fraction (1/70)}^(th) hp., havea adequate energy to move large masses of air, operating at 3000 rpm theunit will move 300 cubic feet per minute (manufacturer'sspecifications). Design restriction, however, reduce the capacity to anestimated 17,280 cubic inches per 10 second interval. The power requiredis taken from an ordinary outlet of 120 volts AC current. DC power frombatteries powering small motors have been proven to be totallyinadequate. These antiquated systems do not have the power to siphonmeasurable volumes of air from the toilet bowl and to force said airthrough an effective filter. E is an especially designed filter toenhance the function of this invention. No other filter available on thecurrent market could satisfy the specifications required in this design.The filter E is composed of high density active charcoal with anabsorption depth of four (4) inches and an absorption surface area ofmore than 28 square inches. No other filter, in related applications,could be located that had air filtering and/or absorbing volumes aslarge as 113 cubic inches designed in E. Consequently, only in the mostrare and unusual circumstance will odorous gaseous molecules flow intothe lower-most G compartment. Compartment G is designed to hold largescented granules contained in a nylon or wire container such as a basketor net. Removable containers will allow the homogenized, cooled, andpleasantly scented air to pass under, over, and around the granulesbefore being vented out of the unit, at floor level where the room'scool air is located and concurrently, allow refilling with more scentedgranules.

[0020] 4. FIG. 3 is basically the same elements of the invention exceptbeing viewed from the front. The arrows that indicate direction of airflow from the toilet bowl into the rectangular opening at the rear ofthe toilet seat A. Other arrows show the path of air flow via the funnelF, down into the top C of the homogenizing, filtering, and cooling unit.Air flow is directed into the filter E and lower compartment G where theair is passed over and around the scented granules before it is expelledfrom the unit at floor level.

[0021] 5. FIG. 4 emphasizes the design of the top view of the toiletseat A and the attached spacers or rails B to the underside of thetoilet seat A. Furthermore, information is provided by citing therelative location and position of the spacers or rails B relative to thetoilet bowl and the rectangular opening on the funnel F at the rear ofthe toilet bowl. Funnel F is anchored by the same bolts that anchor thetoilet seat A

[0022] 6. FIG. 5 is a view of the specially designed activated charcoalfilter E that filters and cools the sparsely dispersed odorous gaseousmolecules. The absorption capacity is slightly more than 113 cubicinches, a capacity estimated to serve effectively for as many as five(5) years. The lower portion of FIG. 5 is a view of the lowercompartment G of the invention. The above filter E is positioned suchthat a space of approximately 1.5 inches remain on the bottom for thepurpose of allowing the unit's processed air to circulate around largescented granules. Scented granules, contained in nylon or wirecontainers, have been incorporated into this invention for two reasons;the first is to bury odorous molecules that unlikely survive the unit'sprocess and, secondly, an opportunity to introduce a pleasant aroma intothe restroom space. Note should be made that the above nylon or wirecontainers are of the removable design and subject to child safetystandards. Arrows indicate direction of air flow from associated vents.

What I claim as my invention is as follows:
 1. A method, utilizing asmall powerful electric motor and impellor, to draw vast quantities ofcool odor-free air from the exterior of the toil bowl, simultaneouslydrawing small clouds of odorous gaseous molecules from the human bodyand associated excrements into a homogenizing unit.
 2. A method,utilizing the motor-fan referenced in claim 1, operating at 3000 rpm tohomogenize and/or disperse small clouds of warm odorous gaseousmolecules among many thousands of cool non-odorous exterior airmolecules.
 3. A method, utilizing dense material of activated charcoal,to filter by absorption and to cool widely dispersed warm odorousgaseous molecules.
 4. A method of venting cooled homogenized and odorfree air around scented granules into the surrounding toilet space atfloor level.
 5. A method, utilizing rails or spacers attached to theunderside of the toilet seat, to create inlet and outlet for warmodorous and cool non-odorous molecules of air and to control thedirection of air flow of these moving air masses to the homogenizingunit.